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Home » Self Help » Support at work

Support at work

Mental ill health was the fifth most common reason for sickness absence among working adults in the UK in 2022, with 1 in 5 people having to take mental health leave from work due to daily stress levels. 1/3 of managers feel out of their depth supporting individuals with mental health challenges and 29% have called for additional support and training.

If you are finding things difficult, or you’re supporting a member of staff who is, you are not alone.

There are many organisations in Portsmouth offering free mental health services and specific services that offer support for employees returning to work after mental health leave.

Disclosing mental health at work

Whether you are preparing to start a new job or you need to tell your employer about your mental health condition, it’s beneficial to consider how to share your health condition in a positive light.

Solent Mind has produced a workbook to help articulate your experiences and strengths effectively. You might find it useful to download and complete yourself – or if you’re an employer, consider printing it out for staff who might find it beneficial.

See the workbook

Employee guides

Wellness action plans

Given the high levels of stress and poor mental health we are seeing in UK workers, there is a growing demand for innovative and proactive ways of managing our mental health at work.

Mental health charity Mind has developed a series of wellness action plans for people working in an office, at home or a mixture of the two. Click below to see the plans:

Work Stress

NHS Talking Therapies Hampshire has developed a self-help guide for work stress. It includes information about triggers, tips for managing stress, what your employer can do and what support is available.

See work stress booklet

Employer guides

Manager’s toolkit

Solent Mind has developed a toolkit with tips, support and services to help managers support their teams with their mental health at work.

Visit Solent Mind manager's toolkit

 

Phased return to work

If a member of your team has had a long period of leave due to mental health, you may want to put a Phased Return to Work Agreement Plan in place for when they come back to work.

NHS Talking Therapies Hampshire has developed a document including an example plan, agreement and templates which you may find helpful.

See phased return to work plan

 

Individual stress risk assessment form

If you are concerned about an employee’s wellbeing, you may consider jointly working on a risk assessment and action plan for the individual.

NHS Talking Therapies Hampshire has produced a document including examples and templates which you may find helpful.

See individual stress risk assessment

A conversation with Amy Hedley

Amy is an Employment Team Leader at Solent Mind, working really closely with NHS Talking Therapies, to support people struggling with their mental health in the workplace, and businesses who want to support their staff.

NHS Talking Therapies and Solent Mind Employment Team

Anyone accessing NHS Talking Therapies in Portsmouth can get help from Solent Mind’s Employment Team, to support people getting into and staying in work.

This could be supporting with job preparation, or providing advice and guidance on any current workplace problems you may be having.

Some ways the team can help:

  • One to one support, either over the telephone, online, or face to face in the community
  • Online workshops and courses
  • Webinars and events
  • Sharing resources and signposting to relevant services
  • Communication and engagement with your employer (optional)
  • Helping you to understand your rights
  • Creating Wellness Action Plans
  • Supporting you with Workplace Stress Risk Assessments
Find out more

For people commuting into the city, but living in Hampshire – you can access NHS Talking Therapies Hampshire. And anyone on the Isle of Wight can access NHS Talking Therapies Isle of Wight. All services have an employment team who are available to support staff and businesses.

If you’re not sure which service to access, enter your postcode on the NHS Talking Therapies Hampshire and Isle of Wight website and find out more.

Enter your postcode

Local services

Portsmouth Mental Health Hub

The Portsmouth Mental Health Hub is the first point of call for anyone aged 16+ living in PO1 to PO6 wanting mental health support for themselves or someone else.

You can call the Hub team on 0300 123 6621, Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm, or chat with the team online, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

About the Hub

 

Other services

There are lots of free, confidential mental health services that provide support online, via text, over the phone or in person.

Services are offered through the NHS or charities, such as Solent Mind or Andy’s Man Club.

Some services are available outside of Portsmouth too, such as Talking Therapies Hampshire and Kooth, or national charities such as Mind and Samaritans.

Find out more

 

Self help

If you want to find out more about the types of mental health problems, or want support in managing your own mental health or supporting someone else, you might find our self-help section useful.

It contains tips, guides and tools to support and improve mental health.

Find out more

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Get in touch

Our friendly team at the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub are here to help.

Call us

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Monday to Friday

0300 123 6621

Chat with us online

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If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health help, please call 111 – the NHS non-emergency number. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is free from any phone. They have specialist mental health nurses who can support adults and young people.

In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999.